During my latest trip to Europe I went to the island of Murano
located off the shore of
Venice,
Italy. The best glassmakers being located there I jumped on the occasion
to purchased few beads so I could create new unique pieces.
"Murano’s reputation as a center for glassmaking was born when the
Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly
wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in
1291.
Murano glass is still interwoven with
Venetian glass.
Murano's glassmakers were soon the island’s most prominent citizens.
By the 14th century, glass makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed
immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their
daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. Of course there
was a catch: Glassmakers weren't allowed to leave the Republic. However,
many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding
cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands.
Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for
centuries, developing or refining many technologies including
crystalline
glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold
(aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori),
milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the
artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques,
crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to
murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers."- Wikipedia
